Godfidence

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

Are you feeling discouraged right now? Is your confidence wearing out? Where do you put your confidence?

I know, you are wondering what the word “Godfidence” means. It is a word that I made up by the leading of the Holy Spirit. It’s the best word I have found to express what I want to share with you. As entrepreneurs and marketplace ministers, we are very familiar with the importance of having confidence. Confidence is having assurance, freedom from doubt, and belief in both yourself and your abilities. All successful people credit their successes to having confidence in themselves. The problem with confidence is that it cultivates pride and promotes a reliance on one’s strengths and abilities. I have never met a successful person who does not have doubts at times or who always believes in themselves.

The reality is that everyone has doubts and fears from time to time. The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t is the ability to overcome doubt and fear and achieve the goals that are before them. The critical difference between the Biblical Entrepreneur and the secular entrepreneur is the Biblical Entrepreneur’s ability to achieve his or her goals without generating internal pride and arrogance. Therein lies the need for another word that best expresses a biblical worldview. Godfidence is a complete reliance and trust in God’s ability to achieve the mission and goals that are set before you. It is a sole dependence on God’s power and strength. It is an assurance that God is able despite your inability. It is an overwhelming assurance that you can because God can. Simply put, it is confidence in God and God alone. This type of confidence is not void of doubts and fears, nor does it require that you have it ‘all together.’ Godfidence can exist amid uncertainties, personal limitations, and difficult circumstances. In fact, Godfidence is always found in situations where your strength is limited.

How do you know whether you are confident or Godfident? Here is a comparison:

Scripture is full of Godfident people. David could not be confident since he was merely a shepherd boy who was not trained in the military. Through his Godfidence, he was able to withstand and defeat Goliath.

In the fight to save Israel from the Midianites, Gideon was going to use the maximum number of people possible – this would assure him the win since he lacked confidence in himself. God knew that if he should win with such a large army, he and Israel would take credit for the victory. Therefore, He told Gideon to reduce his army to 300 people and He would give them the victory. Gideon and his army were able to achieve victory over the Midianites. God made sure that Gideon did not rely on confidence, but on Godfidence.

Another example of Godfidence is the Apostle Paul who was a very confident leader among the Pharisees. He met all of the qualifications of a good, religious Jew: circumcised, from the tribe of Benjamin, zealous, blameless in the law and trained by the best teachers. Once he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was transformed from someone with confidence to someone having Godfidence.

To ensure that he would not have confidence in self, God gave him a thorn in his flesh. This thorn was so painful that Paul pleaded with God to remove it so he could be more effective in his ministry, but God reminded him that His grace is sufficient. Despite the thorn, Paul could do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens him.

What type of “-fidence” do you have: confidence or Godfidence? Like David, you may feel like you are a mere shepherd boy and lack the professional expertise to do what God is requiring of you. Or like Gideon, that you may not have the resources to accomplish the vision that God has given you. You may have a thorn in your flesh like Paul, and feel as though you cannot accomplish the vision unless the thorn is removed. Whatever your circumstance, remember God is able. Confidence is dangerous—it can kill you. You truly can “do all things through Christ who strengthens you.” God calls us to have complete and total trust in His ability. All you need is Godfidence.

My prayer for you today is that even when you don’t feel confident, God would remind you where your strength comes from.